Guild Wars 2

Basically, how does a typical long-term fight (not necessarily PvP) go with an elementalist? I guess, more specifically, how often do you switch between different elements in a single fight?

I thought it was really odd that they would make the trait trees element specific .. but then encourage you to switch between them in a fight. Then again, I suppose you could spec into trait trees and easily make swapping between 2 elements viable.

Thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Chumble

Well as you might know an elementalist can’t swich between weapons but instead swiches between the four different attunements.
This mechanic is a very important factor in your gameplay as an elementalist, you’ll do allot of swapping and once you hit 80 your fingers will be that more flexible.

I think i’ve hit the F1 – 4 keys more in Guild Wars then ever before… I’ll go over a few situations,

#1. Boss battles, you want to go staff here. Staff allows for big distance suppor skills. You really dont want to get in melee range cuz well, elementalists are not the most sturdy class of all.

#2. General PvE, Quests & exploring. You can do this dagger-dagger or scepter-dagger. I’m using dagger-dagger right now because i wanted so playaround with it a bit. Ofcourse you could go staff but i find that less effective for single target damage.

#3. sPvP Basicly go scepter-dagger i think, i’ve not been doing to much sPvP yet so someone correct me if i’m not right with that.

#4. WvWvW staff, didnt do WvWvW since BW1 but the reason for the staff is simple since well you want to stay back ofcourse and the staff allows for great AOE so ye great for WvWvW.

This all said the elementalist needs a small buff, dont ask me what. Maybe more dps, i’m not sure.

Hope this gives you a little bit of an immage how you have to play as an elementalist.

I mostly use staff. For traits now I put all I can into arcane, than some into water and fire.

The PvE tactic is usually: Use attack element to deal big damage than switch to controll things to make opponents in harder position (slower for example), than again go to the damage element.

Damage elements are fire and earth (bleeding…. deadly bleeding…)
Controll is mainly water and earth.
Air is good as support when you need to get rid of 1 opponent or you need to escape hard position.

To question: How often you change elements – I change when my current one is not sufficient, so:
1. All skills recharge in the moment in which I need to cast more\
2. I need some exact skills from other element

Eventually when I stay on the disttance in boss fights I just take an element, shot all I can and than atune to another to do the same :P

The elementelist has a lot of flashy attacks, don’t get distracted by them. Learn where your defensive skills are and use them, an elementalist can lose their entire healthbar fairly fast if you’re not watching your surroundings.